Size: Small, Strength: XXL

Sedat Artuc of Turkey completed the podium, taking bronze with 280kg.

Mutlu joins compatriot ‘Pocket Hercules’ Niam Suleymanoglu and Greece’s Pyrros Dimas and Kakhi Kakiasvilis as the only weightlifters to stand atop an Olympic podium three times.

Dimas, who had the honour of carrying the Greek flag at Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony, and Kakiasvilis will both try for record fourth golds later in the Games.

‘‘I believe I use my heart, my soul and all myself to lift but I believe I am successful because I love weightlifting,’’ said Mutlu, adding that he plans to continue competing until the 2008 Beijing Olympics but will move up a weight division. ‘‘There are two Turks and two Greeks who have three gold medals and the two Greeks will compete here and might leave this special group,’’ he said. ‘‘But what counts for me is I love the sport.’’

Weightlifting’s consummate showman, Mutlu swaggered onto the stage for his opening lift, squatted, flung the bar above his head then held it there defiantly before letting it drop disdainfully to floor, offering a sly smile and a wave to the crowd as he exited.

One of only three men to lift three-times his own weight, Mutlu sealed the gold on his first attempt in the clean and jerk before finishing the competition with a failed attempt at bettering his own world record. (Reuters)